McLaren Stick With Turvey & Paffett For Mugello Test

McLaren have decided to stick with their original testing plans for next weeks Mugello test, which will see the Woking-based team run their test and reserve drivers’ Oliver Turvey and Gary Paffett instead of their main drivers’ Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. 

After a disastrous Bahrain Grand Prix, which saw Hamilton suffer two embarrassing pit-stops and Button retire with mechanical issues, the 2008 World Champion disclosed his desire to partake in the Mugello test. However, McLaren have decided to run both Turvey and Paffett during the three-day test instead, as initially planned.

The plan for McLaren is to have Oliver Turvey in the car on the Tuesday morning on day one, before current DTM driver Gary Paffett takes over in the afternoon session. Paffett will spend all of day two in the car, before 25-year-old Oliver Turvey brings proceedings to an end on day three. This will offer both drivers’ valuable time in car, something which McLaren were unable to offer in previous seasons’ due to the strict ban on in-season testing.

With Hamilton itching to get back in the car to iron out the problems the team faced in Bahrain, Jenson Button seems happy to sit out the Mugello test, “I don’t really think we will be a benefit because there aren’t any massive updates to try. For the test drivers to put some miles on parts and try some very extreme things, then I think it’s good, but it’s not necessary for us to be there.”

Jenson Button heads to the start of the European season in Spain with one victory under his belt, albeit only 4th in the Championship standings. McLaren, however, are nine points clear at the top of the Constructors’ Championship and will be eager to capitalize on their early points haul at the next few races.

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